A baby girl kidnapped when a woman stole her family's Jeep from outside their San Jose home was rescued Monday, authorities said.

Eleven-month-old Gabriela Quintero was found safe just before 11:30 a.m., nearly five hours after her abduction prompted an Amber Alert, police said.

The baby's mother, Graciela Quintero, voiced gratitude Monday night while holding Gabriela. "I want to say thank you for everybody," she said. "Thank you for everything, that people, they prayed for my baby, the police department, everything. My baby is OK. Thanks God."

The baby and the abandoned 2006 Jeep Liberty were found by a maintenance worker parked on Amargosa Court, about 6 miles south of her home. The kidnapper remains at large.

Officer Carlos Acosta, a 14-year veteran, was one of the first officers to reach Gabriela. "She was distraught, kind of lost, dazed, so she was happy, I think, to see us," Acosta said.

"Just because we found the baby and the vehicle doesn't mean that we just pack up and go home now," said Sgt. Jason Dwyer, a San Jose police spokesman. "The investigation's still in full swing. We want to know who took the car and what their motivation was."

Gabriela, who turns 1 year old Friday, did not appear injured, authorities said. As a precaution, she was taken by ambulance - with Acosta riding along with her - to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where she was reunited with her mother.

The baby was in the back seat of the Jeep outside her family's home on Amador Court in east San Jose when the SUV was stolen about 6:45 a.m.

Quintero had put her daughter in the car but hadn't yet strapped her in, police said. The mother was bringing items from her house to the Jeep and had stepped away momentarily when the car - with its keys in the ignition - was stolen.

It's unclear whether the thief knew the baby was in the car, but "we have to assume that this is a stranger abduction," Dwyer said before Gabriela was found.

The kidnapper was described as a Latina or white woman in her 30s who had been seen talking on her cell phone while walking in the neighborhood. She was wearing a dark top and dark pants and had dark hair in a bun. She was carrying what appeared to be a red-and-white Target bag.

Quintero's housemate David Magana said he was about to get up to go to work when he realized that something was wrong.

"The mom was screaming hysterically ... and we just all ran out," Magana said.

Hours later, her screams turned to tears of joy when Quintero learned that Gabriela was safe, Magana said.

"She just wanted to see her baby," he said.

Magana described Quintero as a hardworking single mother who is constantly running around to provide for her daughter.